Stocking-supporter



(Nd Model.)

A. N. HORNER. STOGKING SUPPORTEIL I71 r 071 to 1; Jam nrfiarm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT N. HOBNER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

STOCKlNG-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 272,695, dated February 20, 1883.

Application filed March 10, 1881.

I 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT N. HORNER, of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stocking-Supporters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

My invention relates to an improved forth of supporter or garter for stockings; and it consists of an elastic strip or band adapted to partially encircle the leg, and provided at both ends with a fastening device.

Various kinds of garters or supporters have been and are now in use. The most common form is a simple band of elastic material passing around theleg of the wearer and by compression holding the stocking in place. This method is injurious to health, as the tight compression impedes the circulation. Another device in common use consists of an elastic band passing around the leg below the knee, and provided with cords to which a clasp or snap-hook is attached, by means of which the stocking is held up. The constant tendency of the elastic band to slip down, however, is a source of great annoyance.

By the use of my device compression is avoided, while it is absolutely impossible for the stocking to slip down.

The device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,'Figure 1 showing the garter in position,and Fig. 2 giving a separate View.

A represents a band or strip of elastic material of such length that when stretched it will extend nearly or quite half round the leg of the wearer. At each end is attached a fastening device, which may be a pin, hook, or clasp, or any fastening that may pass through two thicknesses of material. I prefer to use pins of the class known as safety-pins, to the shank of which the elastic strip is attached and securely stitched. I prefer to bend the shank of the pin into an ofl'set, l, in order to hold the elastic strip in place.

The manner of wearing and using my garter is as follows: The stockings are pulled up over the drawers and the pin at one end of the garter passed through both stockings and drawers and fastened. The other end is then (No model.)

carried around over the front of the leg about half-way and secured in the same manner.

It will thus be seen that substantially all compression is avoided, since the garter only extends partly around, and while it draws the stocking tightly around the leg it does not press injuriously at any particular point.

By this arrangement it will be seen that the portion of the stocking not encircled by the elastic is stretched to some extent and made to serve the purpose of a garter for the back portion of the leg, or that portion not encircled by the elastic. This compression, though too slight to cause any annoyance to the wearer, is still sufficient to retain the stockin g in place, should the garter be secured to the stocking only. The advantage, however, of passing the pins through both the stocking and drawers is very apparent, as in this case the drawers prevent the stocking from slipping down, and the stocking prevents the drawers from slipping up, as both are securely held in position by the fastening devices before described.

While the device is particularly intended for mens wear, it may also be used to support ladies stockings. WVhen thus used the stocking is turned down above the knee, forming a fold, through the two thicknesses of which the pins are passed in the manner before described. The advantages of this arrangement over the complicated and uncomfortable supporting devices ordinarily used by ladies will be apparent.

I am aware that an elastic supporter having two branches adapted to be connected to some part of the clothing above and to each side of the upper part of the stockingis not new, and that a certain special form of safety-pin has been heretofore used in connection with such elastic supporter. I do not, therefore, broadly claim an elastic supporter, whether with a pin or with spring-jaw attachment. My supporter is adapted to sustain the stocking by partiallyencircling the leg and by pressure of the elastic band thereon, and also by theinsertion of the connecting-pins through the stocking and the leg of the drawers, over which the stockings are drawn.

Having thus described my invention, what i In testimony whereoflhave signed my name I claim is-- to this specification in the presence ottwo sub- The improved stocking-supporter, consistscribing witnesses.

ing of an elastic band adapted to partially en- ALBERT N. HORNER,

5 circle the leg, and provided with a shield attaching pin at each end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witnesses: GEO. MOOAFFRAY, P. H. U. STITCHER. 

